Breathing In LA: JUICE: From Bgirls and Bboys to Graffiti Art

The following post is from YouthNoise Play City—a community dedicated to changing the world through sports and play. PLAY ON!

THE CITY OF ANGELS
You ever get in a funk? Nothing seems to go right. Time flies by, exhaustion sets in, and work piles up. Stuff you can't control like the weather breaks a number of heat records for Spring one week, and kills your desire to tackle your obligations the next. Luckily, the City of Angels heard my distress call 'cause I was yearning for some loving. It extended a hand and gave me a much needed shot of community in action. If you're looking for a place to improve your skills or you simply love hip-hop, dance, or art, you'll love JUICE.

One of the art pieces displayed at JUICE

A SWEET NECTAR: JUSTICE, UNITY, AND CREATIVE ENERGY
JUICE is a spot, a program, a place of replenishment, a community of folk doing their thing. It's another world made up in the City of Angels that literally stands for Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy.

And the place—the bgirls and the bboys blowing up the floor with bodily contortions and rhythmic mastery, artistic journeys that erupt in a flow of harmony, smiles, dance, and street art, the lingering aroma of freshly-squeezed graffiti cans, and a night of movement—turned my funk to funky, my bitter drink to wine, my daily grind to grooving times, and my lows to a new sublime. JUICE entered my system and I've been cool ever since.

Another dancer doing his thing

GOOD VIBES AND GOOD TIMES
I've been to JUICE twice in the last month and each time the dance floor just grabs me in one swift motion, sucking me into a magically orchestrated vortex of flailing legs, mind-boggling headspins, and lip-biting, soul-moving footwork. Bboys and bgirls just practicing and battling, having a good time. Each visit had me floating through wave after wave of soulful tunes from greats like James Brown, Nina Simone, and Bob Marley, remixes that provide an inspiring backdrop to the pulsating vibes of energy and creative bliss.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
One of the coolest things about the place is that everyone is welcomed. Come out, get your dance on, handle a couple of cans, throw up a piece on the wall, and share your creative energy with others. You don't have to be Happy Feet or Banksy to kick it here.

Everyone is at their own level. There's a few like me just watching, admiring, and chilling—waiting for our chances to blow-up. And then there's others like Enerjetik who dances in the crew: Killa4nia. He's been dancing for a grip of years and believe me, he's got mad skills to show for it. He came to JUICE about three years ago and says that breaking is his passion. He and his crew even put on shows in various high schools around Los Angeles. Like I said, there's something for everyone under this sun. JUICE is where it's at.